Lacquering machine



Feb. 27, 1934. c. D. DALLAS l 1,948,843

LACQUERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26. 1931 '7' Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb.' 27, 1934. c. D. DALLAS LACQUERING MACHINE Filed Aug.V 26. 1931 '7 Sheets-Sht 2 c.4 D. DALLAS LACQUERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26. 19431 1elln27, 1934.

Fok-211934. c. D. DALLAS 1,948,843

LACQUERING MACHINE l Filed Aug. 26. 1931 'I Sheets-Sheet 4 Y ?3 v 59 v a?, 7 Q4 743 Feb. 27, 19534. c; D, DALLAS 1,948,843

LACQUERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26. 19:51y 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ii, J? EE 66 705 l: i

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Feb. 27, 1934- c. D; DALLAS l LACQUERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26. 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IG/,W 0 0 0 uws QQ l @SS Feb. 27, 1934.` QLD. DALLAS 1,948,343

LACQUERING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2e, 1931 '1 sheets-sheet @was 5,' @baffes z zazlas Patented Feb. 21, 1934 1.94am: mcqueanm amenmn Charles D.Dallas,lxicago,lll.,aaslgnorto8everem Copper t Brass Incorporated, Rome, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland l Appunti@ Anm ze. 1931. serial No. 559.464

1o claims.- (ci. 91-55) The invention relates to improvements in lacquering devices and has particular reference to devices of the character used in connection with cleaning and lacquering tubes or the like g although the principles of the invention may be applied to the cleaning and lacquering of other articles than tubes.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that satisfactory lacquering requires `that the surface to be lacquered should be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and grease particles before the lacquer is applied. The cleaning process requires the abrasion of the surface in the presence of a cleaning liquid suitable to cut or release dirt and grease. The surface must be dry when' the lacquer is appliedand in the usual practice, the time required for drying the article after cleaning prev vents a continuous operation of cleaning and lacquering. Lacquering as heretofore practiced ,20 is accomplished either by submerging the article in a lacquer bath or by spraying the lacquer over the surface of the article. 'I'he dipping process involves waste and an uneven iicw of the lacquer upon removal from the bath. In spraying, the atmosphere is iilled with fumes involving a substantial waste of lacquer and the fume laden atmosphere renders any attempt to `accelerate the drying of the freshly lacquered article by artificial meansan extremely hazardous undertaking by reason of the possibilities of ignition and explosions. The-handling'of a freshly lacquered articlev must be postponed until the article is dry and as a result continuity of lacquering and handling is impossible. The invention contemplates the application of lacquer to an article by means of brushes, thereby minimizing the escape of fumes to a point where danger of explosion and fire is eliminated. The absence of fumes permits an article, lacquered by brushes to 40 be immediately subjected to articial drying without danger of fire and an object of the invention is the provision of a device through which articles such as tubes, or` the like,- may be continuously advanced and in turn subjected' to cleaning, drying, lacquerlng and articial drying without checking and stopping the article and without danger of fire or explosions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an 'improved brushing and cleaning device adapted to thoroughly clean tubes, or the like, having embossed and otherwise irregular surfaces.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved revolvable brush means adapt- `ed to apply lacquer evenly to articles havingl irregular surfaces such as embossed and twisted tubing, or the like, with a minimum of loss of lacquer in the form of fumes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved device for feeding and 00 advancing articles such as tubes, or the like. Y

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved reouperating air drying yoven associated with means for circulating air through the oven and recirculating the same following its discharge upon a freshly lacquered surface without danger of igniting the fume laden air so circulated and-recirculated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved conveyor adapted to ad- 7 vance tubes or similar articles without marking or otherwise disflguring the surface of such articles.

Still another object of the invention `is the provision of improved means operable to auton matically remove anysurfa'ce lacquer and pref vent any waste of lacquer so removed.

Still another objectv of the invention is to provide a cleaning and lacquering device of the kind described which is simple, compact, convenient` 30 and satisfactory for its intended purpose.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction', arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Fig. l is a plan view of the' cleaning and lacquering endv of the device; l

Fig. 2 is aplan view of the drying end of the device; Y u

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the disclosure shown in Fig. l: Y

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the heating device shownin Fig. 2r l Fig. 5 isa view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 10 to a larger scale: s 6 is a view along-the line 6-6 cf Fig. 5;

. 'l is a plan view of the lacquering device in Fig. 8 a

idrawn to a larger scale; view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1 105 a larger scale;

a`- view along the line of Fig. 1 larger scale;

Fig.

a view along line 10-10 of a Wl' mi y Fig. 11 is a view along the line 11-11 of Fig. 3 drawn to a larger-scale;

' 12 is a view along the line 12--12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view along the line 13-13 of Fig. 2 'drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 14 is a view along the line 14-14 of Fig. 4 drawn to a larger scale; and

Fig. 15 is a view along the line 15-15 of Fig. 13.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral '20 generally designates a duplex brushing unit. The numeral 21 generally designates a lacquering unit and the numeral 22 generally designates an automatic tube feeding device and recuperating air drying oven with recirculating air conduits. A tube 23 is shown diagrammatically in dotted lines as typical of an article to be advanced through the machine and having in turn the steps of cleaning, drying, lacquering and cooling performed thereon.

'I'he brushing unit 20 is carried by a supporting frame comprising longitudinal angle irons 24 and substantially vertical angle irons 25 serving as legs. A pair of tanks 26, each normally containing a cleaning liquid substantially of the depth shown, are mounted on the supporting frame. An inwardly converging member 50,l mounted on the front tank 26, serves as a guide by means of which the tube 23 may be manually directed into the tank along the axis of an abrasive or brushing unit 39. l y

The tanks 26 are provided with a cover 27 and are each equipped with one' of the brushing units 39 for removing dirt or grease from the surface of the tube 23. Figs. 5 and 6 show the details of the brushing unit located in the end tank26; the unit in the adjacent tank and its driving means are identical with that shown except that the adjacent unit has its driving end adjacent to the driving end of the unit shown. Members 28 extending transversely of 'the tanks 26 provide supports upon which the brushing units 39 yare revolved by means hereinafter more particularly described. Legs y18 on the bottom of the menibers 28 provide spaces 19 permitting silt deposited by the brushing units to spread over the -bottom of the tanks 26.

The brushing units 39 each consists of a cylindrical member 30 having closely fitting annular members 29 mounted on the ends. The members 29 have a groove fitting the curved upper bearing surface of the supporting members 28. The tight fit between members 29 and 30 cause these members to revolve together on the members 28 as a bearing. Clamp bars 24 fastened at each end by bolts 33 hold the brushing units seated on the members 28.

The cylindrical members 30 each have a plu- `ralityof equally spaced longitudinal slots 31 extending substantially their'full length. The slots 31 are T shaped in cross section and provide seats for similar shaped members 35 forming a back in which a plurality of groups of radially extending bristles 36 are mounted. 'Ihe members 35 and bristles 36 provide a plurality of elongated brushes, held in position in the slots 31 by bands 38. The bands 38 are easily removed for renewal or repair ofthe brushes. The bristles 36 stop short-of intersectionland thereby form an open space 40 extending the full length between the ends of the bristles. The dimensions of the space 40 are preferably slightly less than 'the lateral dimensions of the'tube 23 which is advanced therethrough so that the en'ds of the bristles 36 rub against the surface of the tube as the brushes are revolved. The tanks 2,6 are kept supplied-with a cleaning liquid at approximately the level shown by the dotted line 17 to form a bath in which the bristles are partially submerged once during each revolution. 'Ihe revolving bristles 36 are thereby covered to convey the liquid to the surface o'f thetube with which the brushes are in contact and the abrasion of the tube in the presence of the liquid substan tially cleans the tubes.

A plurality of aperturesy 37 are provided inthe cylindrical member 30 to The substantially clean tube 23 is subjected to a second abrading and washing operation in the adjoining tank and leaves the tank in a thoroughly cleaned condition.

The brushing units 39 are both actuated by being operatively connected with a motor 47 which is mounted on a support 46 over the front tank 26. A sprocket Wheel 49, mounted on the motor shaft 48, isgconnected with a sprocket wheel 44 mounted on a shaft 42. The sprocket wheels 44 and 49 are connected by a sprocket chain 45. A pair of gears 32, only one of which is shown. are mounted on the adjacent ends of the cylindrical members 30, and each operatively engage' a pinion 43 mounted on the shaft 42. The brushing units 39 are thereby each simultaneously rotated by the motor 47 through the system of sprockets, chains, gears and pinions as above described. A

The Atubes 23 having been subjected to two separate abrasion and washing operations leave the inner tank 26 through a pipe 53 upon the end of which an air ring 107 is mounted. The detailed construction of the air`ring 107 is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 in connection with the lacquer-l ing unit and consists of a ring 55 connected by pipes 56 with a supply of air under pressure. The ring 55 has an annular shaped flange with which a hollow nozzle plug 57 has a threaded connection. The plug 57 is threaded into the ange of the ring 55 Awith its end spaced from the ring to provide an annular shaped aperture 58. The central portions of the ring 55 and the plug 57 have axially aligned apertures 108 and 109 respectively to provide a space through'which the tube 23 travels. T he peripheral edges of the openings in the ring 55 and the plug 57 are correspondingly beveled so that the central portion of the plug contacts with the corresponding beveled portion 'of the ring. A plurality of radially extending grooves 59 are formed on the beveled edge of the plug 57 through which air ingtube 23 and blows off the moisture through an opening 54 in vthe pipe 53 leaving the tube 23 thoroughly dried and cleaned. I

The lacquering unit 21 is positioned in alignment with and adjacent the inner tank 26 andend by hinges 143.

consists ofatanko carriedbyasupportcomprising a pair of longitudinally angle irons 61 and a phirality' o! vertically extending angle irons 62. lacquer is maintained in the tank60at substantiallythelevelshownbythe dotted line 16, the same being delivered into the main portion of the tank through a dost box 63. The bottom ot the lloat box 63 is connected with the main tank 60 by a plurality oi apermay be of any suitable type, but is shown as a ilapY valve mounted on the lever 69 so that as the lioat rises and falls with the lacquer, the valve is moved to closed and open position. q

A guide member 50 is mounted in the end wall of the tank 60 adjacent the cleaning tanks 26 to receive the advancing tube 23. The opposite end wall of the tank 69 has a groove 100 which also serves as a guide for the tube 23 as it is advanced through the lacquering unit.

A pair of transversely extending partition members '71 are positioned in the tank 60 and on which is mounted a brushing unit 140 similar in construction and operation 'to the brushing units 39 already described. The brushing unit 140 comprises a cylindrical member i6 having relatively wide metal bands 13 mounted on each end. The bands 73 are journaled on the curved top surface ofthe partition members 7l.

Clamp bars '74, encircling the top portion of the bands '73, are fastened to the members .'11 at one' end by thumb screws 80 and at the other The bars 'Z3 and the members 7l together providev a journaled mounting in which the cylindrical `member 16 is rotatable. The member '16 has a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 77 in each of which a member 78 is mounted. The members 'I8 provide bacini for brushes, each consisting of a plurality of groups of bristles 81. The backs .'18 project inwardly a substantial distance and the bristles l are correspondingly short. It is desirable that the bristles be short to prevent bending under the weight of the lacquer and to permit the bristles to maintain a radial position.'

The slots '77 and back members 78 are correspondingly offset, as shown, to provide seats for the members. Bands at each end of the member 16 hold the members '78 seated in the slots.

`The brushing unit 140 is operatively connected with a motor or other actuating mechanism (not shown) through a driving connection comprising a sprocket chain 87 rotating a sprocket wheel 86 fixedly mounted on a shaft 85. The .actuating mechanism is supported by a bracket 82 fastened on the side of the tank 60 by any suitable means. The bracket 82 carries aber 83 in which the shaft 85 is journaled. Y The bracket 82 also carries a bar 84, extending at right angles to the bearing 83, in which a shaft 104 is journalediv A pair of beveled gears. 102 and 103 operatively connect the shaft 85 with the shaft 104. The shaft 104 is operatively connected with the cylindrical member '16 by a gear 185 so mounted on the shaft as to mesh with a gear 106 xedly mounted on the cylindrical member. The described connections are such that movement of the sprocket chain 87 causes the cylindrical member '76 to revolvein its mounting in the lacquer tank 60.

The cylindrical member 76 is removed from the tankwhennotinuse and placedinabathof liquid to prevent the lacquer from hardening and thereby rendering the bristles 81 unfit for use. The gear 105 is positioned in a lateral extension 144 of the tank 60. meshes with the gear 106 mounted on the endv of the cylindrical member 76. The walls of the extension member 144 provide supports for bearings 145 in which the shaft 104 is journaled. The gear 106 is positioned at the same level or above The gear 105- the gear 105. By releasing the thumb screws 80,

the clamp bars 74 may be turned about the'hihges 143 and the cylindrical member '16, including the brushes, can then be removed from the tank as a unit and submerged in a thinning liquid and the brushes thereby be kept in condition without disassembly.

The inner ends lof the oppositely positioned bristles 8l are spaced apart suiiiciently to permit the tube 23 to be advanced therethrough with the bristles pressing against the surface of the tube. The bristles 81 are only partially submerged in the lacquer and in revolving they carry the lacquer to an elevation where it is spread uniformly over the surface of `the tubel 23. A plurality of longitudinally extending slots 79 are pro-- vided in the cylindrical member 'I6 between the slots 'l'l to permit the lacquer to dow into the`V interior of the member. The slots '79 converge inwardly a substantial amount and thereby function as buckets having constricted bottom openings serving to carry and pour the lacquer into the member 76 from above. 'Ihe revolving of the member 76 also agitates the lacquer and keeps it of uniform consistency and quality. Slots 72 in the partition supports 7l are provided to maintain the lacquer at a uhiforxn'level in the tank 60.

The device is adapted for use with tubes and articles of diiierent sizes and is constructed to avoid marking or disflguring the freshly lacquered surfaces of the articles passing therethrough.

The tubes 23 are automatically advanced by a feeding device mounted in the forward end of the tank 60. The feeding device comprises an upper inverted U shaped member 92 and a lower U shaped member 95. Themember 95 is iixedly fastened to the side walls of the tank 60 by bolts 93 and 9i. One end or the member 92 is pivotally mounted on the bolts 94 and a pair of tension springs 99 connect the other end of the member 92 with the member 95.

through the side walls of the member 92 into contact with the upper edge of the member 95. The springs 99y constantly tend to hold the bolts 98 in contact with the member 95 and yield to permit limited rotation of the member 92 about its pivots 94 when subjected to strain.

Shafts 91 and 96 are mounted in the members 92 and 95, respectively, and each carries a V shaped or beveled roller 97 between whichthe tube4 23 travels. The springs 91 normally hold the rollers 9'7 at a spacing determined by the position oi the bolts 98. This spacing is slightly less than the lateral dimensions of the tube 23. The upper roller 97 is a driving roller and the lower roller is an idler.. 'Ihe tension of the springs 99 is suiiicient that rotation of the upper driving roller 97 advances the tube.

The shaft 91, on which the upper driving roller 97 is fixedly mounted is operatively connected with the shaft 85 by a sprocket chain 89. A

A pair of adjusting bolts 98 extend' down 488 flxedly mounted on the shaft 85. The connection between the shaft 91 and 85 is such that the driving roller 97 is actuated by the mechanism that revolves the cylindrical member 76 and the tube 23 is automatically advanced at a rate corresponding to the rate of revolution of the cylindrical member 76.

A drip tank 101, adiacent the front end of the tank 60, is provided to receive any excess lacquer blown ofi the tube 23 by an air ring 55, which is connected with a supply of compressed air by a pair of tubes 56, the ring and tubes being' similar tothose used for drying the tube upon emergence from the cleaning tank.

The freshly lacquered tube is next advanced through a heating device to accelerate the drying of the lacquered surface. The heating device consists in part of an inverted U shaped housing member 112 supported by a frame consisting of a pair of longitudinally extending angle irons i 110 and a plurality of -vertical angle irons 111.

A horizontal diaphragm plate 113 extending the full length of the housing member 112 provides an upper rectangular space through vwhich an endless conveyor belt 114 moves to advance the tube 23. The belt 114 has a plurality of transversely extending rods l115, concave at their middle portion to provide slats guiding the tube 23 through the middle of the housing. The belt 114 is actuated by a driving pulley 119, con- `nected with Apower mechanism (not shown) by means of a belt 120. Pulley 119 is mounted on .a shaft 117 which also-carries a pulley 116 with which the belt 114 cooperates. The return portion of the belt 114 moves underneaththehousing and over an idler pulley`121. The shaft 117 is journalled in bearing blocks 118 mounted on the angle irons 110. The belt 114 passes over' pulleys similar in construction and mounting-to the pulleys 119 and 121 positioned on the opposite ends of the angle irons 110 (not shown).

A pair of vertical screens 122, extend the full length of the housing on either side ofthe belt 114. The screens 122 are connected with the upper wall of the housing member and with the horizontal diaphragm plate 113. The screens 122 permit air to iiow freely therethrough and by a burner 125 which is connected by a feed pipe 126 with a supply'of gas (not shown). Air is circulated through thespace 127 by means oi a closed conduit system having its termini in the housing member 112 and so positioned that the air circulating through the conduit and l heated by the oven 123 is discharged about and along the advancing tube 23. 'Ihe side walls of the-oven 123 and the manifom plates 12'1 have air tight joints preventing the escape or air from the space surrounding the tubes other than through the conduit system. V

A hollow cylinder 133, closed at both ends, is positioned -underneath the diaphragm plate 113 and between the angle irons 110. A pipe 132 forminga portion of the conduit system connects the cylinder 133 with the lower end of the oven.

123. Pipes 136 and 137 also forming a portion of the conduit system connect the upper end of the oven 123 with the housing member 112. A fan 138, actuated by a motor 139, is positioned in the pipe 137. The fan draws air from the upper end o! the oven and discharges it through the pipe 136 into one side of the housing member 112. The pipe 136 opens into the housing member at two points spaced apart la substantial distance and thereby circulates the air over a substantial length of the advancing tube 23. A portion of the air so delivered from the-pipe 136 into the housing member 112 passes through the screens 122 and into direct contact with the tube 23, where it is cooled by drying the lacquer on the tube. The air thus cooled and laden with moist lacquer fumes is drawn by theaction of the fan down through a plurality of apertures 135 in the diaphragm plate 113 into a chamber 142 through a plurality of apertures 135 in the diaphragm plate 113. The fume laden air is discharged from the chamber 142 into the cylinder 133 through a plurality of apertures 134 arranged in rows in the upper portion of the cylinder. The fumes and the moisture laden air in the cylinder 133 ow through the pipe 132 and is discharged into the bottom of the oven 123 where it is dried and reheated as it rises through the oven and again .flows through the pipe 137. 'Il'ne highlyiniiammable fume laden air is thus'ciiculated and recirculated through the oven Without danger of ignition or explosion and the tube 23 is thoroughly dried while being advanced through the housing member. The belt 114 conveying the tube 23 projects beyond the housing member a substantialdistance to permit the tube to be cooled suiilciently that it can behandled upon its discharge from the belt.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a device consisting of a novel duplex brushingunit operable to clean tubes and the like by abrasion and washing, in combination with novel means for advancing the tube or article being lacquered, novel means for applying lacquer to the freshly loo cleaned advancing article, and novel means for accelerating the drying of the freshly lacquered article the latter comprising means for heating, circulating and recirculating air over the article without danger of ignition of the -fume laden air so circulated and recirculated.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish'to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown'and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lacquering device, the combination of means for advancing an article through the vdevice with means for applying lacquer to the surface of the advancing article, and means for circulating heated air about the freshly lacquered surface of .the advancing article to accelerate the drying of -the lacquer, said lacquer applying means comprising a tank containing lacquer, 1

gltudinal aperture through which -the article to be lacquered is advanced, and means for revolving said brush aboutits axis to distribute lacquer uniformly over the surface of the article.

2. In a lacquering device, the combination of means for continuously advancing an article through the device, a lacquer tank through which said article advances above the lacquer level, a

brush revolvable in the tankv for applying lacquer to said article, `said brush being cylindrical and having inwardly projecting radially extending brlstlesqstopping short of `intersection to provide a longitudinal aperture through which the article to be lacquered passes, means for revolving said brush, a housing through which the freshly lacquered article passes, a conduit connected with 'said housing, means for discharging air from projecting radially extending bristles stopping short of intersection to provide a longitudinal "aperture through which the article to be lacquered passes, means for revolving said brush, a housing through which said freshly lacquered advancing article passes, a closed conduitconnected with said housing, means operable to circulate the air contents of the housing'through said conduit and to discharge the air over said article, and an oven associated with the conduit to heat the air passing through the conduit.

"i, In a lacquering device, the combination of means for continuously advancing an article through the device, a lacquer tank through which the advancing article passes above the level of the lacquer, means for applying lacquer to said article while paming through the tank, said lac-f quer applying means comprising a cylindrical brush mounted in the tank with its axis positioned above and parallel to the surface of the lacquer, said brush having Ainwardly projecting radially extending bristles Vterminating short of intersection to provide a longitudinal aperture through which the article to be lacquered is advanced, and means for revolving said brush about its axis tc provide a uniform coating of lacquer to the article, a housing through which the freshly lacquered advancing article passes, a closed conduit having its ends connected with said housing, means for circulating air through said conduit and discharging same around said article, and a fiuid tight oven forming a portion of the conduit operable to heat the air passing through the conduit and around said article.

5. In combination, a tank containing cleaning liquid through which an article is adapted to be moved, means operable to simultaneously abrade and apply liquid to the surface of the article, a lacquering tank through which said article is advanced upon passing through said cleaning tank, means operable to apply lacquer uniformly over the surface of the article, said lacquer applying means comprising a cylindrical brush mounted in the lacquer tank with its axis. 'positioned above and parallel to thev surface of the lacquer, said brush having inwardly projecting radially extending bristlesterminating short of intersection to provide a longitudinal aperture through which the article to bo lacquered is advanced, means for revolving said brush about its axis to provide a uniform coating of lacquer on the article, a housing through which said freshly lacquered article travels, an oven, a closed conduit connecting the oven to said housing and means operable to circulate air through said conduit and oven and to discharge the air about the freshly lacquered surface of the article.

6. In combination, a tankcontaining cleaning liquid through which an article is. adapted to be moved above the liquid level, revolving brush means partially submerged in the liquid, said brush means vadapted to abrade and apply liquid to the surface of the article, a lacquering device f through which said article passes upon emergence from the cleaning tank, said lacquering device consisting of means operable to continuously advance said article, a tank containing,v lacquer -nating short of intersection to provide a longitudinal aperture through which the article to belacquered is advanced and means for revolving said brush about its axis to provide a uniform coating oi lacquer to the article, a housing through which said freshly lacquered article travels, a fluid tight oven, a closed conduit connect- 'ing said oven and housing, and means operable to circulate air'throughsaid conduit and` oven and to discharge the air in the housing about the freshly lacquered surface of the article.

7. In a lacquering device, the combination of means for continuously advancing an article through the device, a lacquering tank through which said article advances above the lacquer level, a brush revolvable in the tank for apply- 'inglacquerto said article, means operable to deliver airA under pressure to the advancing article to' remove excess lacquer therefrom, means for revolving said brush, a housing through which the freshly lacquered article passes, avconduit connected with said housing, means for discharging air from said conduit over the lacquered surface' oi said article, and an oven associated with said conduit operable to heat 'the air discharged from the conduit.

8. In a lacquering device,- the-combination of means for continuously advancing an article through the device, a lacquer tank through which said article advancesabove the lacquer level, a brush revolvable in the tank for applying lacquer to said article, said brush' being-cylindrical and having inwardly projecting radially extending bristles stopping short of intersection to provide a longitudinal aperture through which the article 'to be lacquered passes, means for revolving said abrade and apply liquid to-the surface of the.

article, means operable to apply compressed 'air to the surface of the advancing article to dry the same while in said tank, a lacquering tankv through which said article is advanced upon passing through said cleaning tank, means operable to apply lacqueruniformly over the sur-l face of the article, means operable to deliver` air under pressure to the advancing article to remove excess lacquer therefrom, a housing through which said freshly lacquered article travels, an

' oven, a closed conduit connecting the oven with tank,`- means operable to` appiylacquer uniformly over the surface of the article, said lacquer apply- Y ing means comprising a cylindrical brush mounted in the lacquer tank with its axis positioned above and parallel to the surface of .the lacquer, said brush having inwardly projecting radially extending bristles terminating short of intersection to provide a longitudinal aperture through which the article to be lacquered is advanced, means for revolving said brush about its axis to provide a uniform coating of lacquer on the article, means operable to deliver air under pressure to the advancing article to remove excess lacquer therefrom, a housing through which said freshly lacquered article travels, an oven, a closed conduit connecting the oven to said housing, and means operable to circulate air through said conduit and oven andto discharge the air about the freshly lacquered surface of the article.

CHARLBSD. DALLAS.

loo 

